DE102019204612A1 - Manufacturing station for processing components - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a production station (1) for processing components, with several exchangeable geometry devices (2) for clamping different component variants. The geometry devices (2) can be moved by means of a turntable (11) between a working position (10), which fixes the respective component precisely, and a standby position (16). The turntable (11) is designed to simultaneously accommodate a geometry device (2) arranged in the working position (10) and a geometry device (2) arranged in the standby position (16). In addition, the geometry devices (2) can be moved between the standby position (16) and a storage position (18) in a rack (12) by means of a shelf operating device (13), with several geometry devices (2) being vertically stackable in the rack (12).

Description

The invention relates to a production station for processing components, with several exchangeable geometry devices for clamping different component variants.

From the WO 92/19486 A1 a production station for workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies, in a transfer line is already known. Rotatable drum magazines are arranged on both sides of a processing device to accommodate different geometry devices designed as clamping frames for clamping the workpieces. By means of a transport device assigned to the two drum magazines, a clamping frame used in the processing device is transported into one of the two drum magazines, which has a free loading point, and then another clamping frame is brought from the other magazine into the processing device.

The increased space / surface requirement for the two drum magazines and for the transport device required for transporting the tenter frames proves to be disadvantageous. In addition, only a limited number of different clamping frames can be stored due to the two drum devices. The number of tensioning frames in stock is directly related to the space required for the entire production station. The more different clamping frames are to be stored, the more space is required. In addition, the unproductive downtime of the processing device during the change of the clamping frame, i.e. during the transport of the previously used clamping frame into one of the drum magazines, the movement of the transport device between the drum magazines and the subsequent transport of a new clamping frame into the processing device also proves to be disadvantageous.

The DE 199 17 908 A1 describes a system for the flexible assembly of motor vehicle bodies, which comprises a processing station and a large number of different clamping frames, which can be moved on circulating transport tracks and fed to the processing station.

Here, too, the increased space and surface requirements for the tensioning frames circulating on the conveyor tracks proves to be disadvantageous. In addition, complex and cost-intensive transport systems, such as electric monorail systems, chain conveyors or other driverless transport systems, are required, which in addition to the high acquisition costs also have a high energy requirement.

Another assembly station for the production of vehicle bodies, which comprises several interchangeable clamping frames, is from DE 696 21 443 T2 known.

The invention is based on the object of providing a production station of the type mentioned at the outset, by means of which the space requirement and the investment in operating resources as well as the downtimes of the production station are reduced when the component variant to be processed is changed. At the same time, the flexibility of the production station with regard to the number of different component variants is to be increased.

This object is achieved with a production station according to the features of patent claim 1. The subclaims relate to particularly expedient developments of the invention.

According to the invention, a manufacturing station for processing components, with several interchangeable geometry devices for clamping different component variants is provided, in which the respective geometry devices can be moved by means of a turntable between a work position that fixes the respective component precisely and a standby position, the turntable for simultaneous reception of a Geometry device arranged in the working position and a geometry device arranged in the standby position is designed and in which the respective geometry devices can be moved between the standby position and a storage position on a shelf by means of a storage and retrieval unit, with several geometry devices being vertically stackable in the shelf.

Due to the combination of the turntable with the shelf and the shelf operating device, a lower space requirement, a lower energy requirement and lower investments for operating resources are required compared to the prior art mentioned at the beginning. Due to the turntable accommodating a total of two geometry devices, when the component variant is changed, the geometry device can be exchanged particularly quickly by pivoting the turntable, in particular within a few seconds. A geometry device can be arranged in the standby position while another geometry device is in the working position on the turntable or while the component is being processed in the manufacturing station. As a result, the standstill time of the production station can be considerably shortened or the system availability can be increased when the component variant to be processed is changed. At the same time, the flexibility of the manufacturing station in terms of the number of different component variants can be increased, since the different geometry devices can be arranged vertically one above the other in the high-bay shelf. This flexibility can be increased by the fact that the shelf can (can) be expanded in a modular manner and can thus accommodate additional geometry devices. In addition, the geometry devices arranged on the shelf can be exchanged for other geometry devices for processing further component variants during operation of the production station. Further advantages of the manufacturing station according to the invention compared to the manufacturing stations known from the prior art mentioned at the beginning are the lower susceptibility to failure and a significantly lower control effort.

It proves to be particularly advantageous that the turntable can be pivoted about a vertical axis. As a result, the turntable forms a horizontal storage surface for the geometry devices arranged in the standby position and the working position. Due to the force of gravity, these lie on the support surface of the turntable, whereby for the defined positioning of the respective geometry devices on the turntable, corresponding positioning devices can be provided on the geometry devices and / or on the turntable.

A particularly useful embodiment of the invention is also achieved in that the two geometry devices arranged on the turntable are arranged diametrically opposite one another. Due to the diametrical arrangement of the geometry devices in the working position and the geometry device in the standby position, the geometry devices can be changed between the working position and the standby position by pivoting the turntable through 180 °. As a result, when the component variant to be manufactured is changed, the geometry device can be changed particularly quickly, in particular within a few seconds, so that the time for a geometry device change can be significantly reduced compared to the known manufacturing stations.

Another inventive feature consists in the fact that the shelf has a plurality of shelves arranged vertically one above the other and spaced apart for each at least one geometry device. The distance between the shelves is dimensioned in such a way that the respective geometry device can be stored or removed from an unoccupied shelf of the shelf without colliding with the shelf, with another shelf or with another geometry device arranged on the shelf. The shelf is designed as a high shelf and comprises a steel frame, which is particularly expandable in height. The shelves are formed, for example, by cantilever beams arranged on the shelf, each shelf comprising at least two cantilever beams. Alternatively, the shelves can also be designed as a surface element or shelf.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous here that during the transport of the geometry device between the standby position and the storage position at least one of the multiple shelves of the shelf arranged vertically one above the other is unoccupied. This ensures that a geometry device arranged in the standby position on the turntable can be picked up by the storage and retrieval unit and quickly and reliably stored on the shelf, so that the storage and retrieval unit can then immediately remove a geometry device intended for processing another component variant from another shelf on the shelf and can position in the standby position on the turntable.

Furthermore, it is provided that the storage and retrieval system comprises a horizontally and vertically displaceable receiving element that receives the geometry device. The receiving element can be fork-shaped and have at least two fork prongs on which the respective geometry device rests during transport between the standby position and the respective storage position. The storage and retrieval system can be designed as a vertically displaceable lifting beam, which is connected to the horizontally displaceable receiving element.

Another inventive feature is that the shelf comprises at least two separate shelf units, each of which has a plurality of shelves arranged one above the other for at least one geometry device, with a common shelf operating device being assigned to the two shelf units. As a result, the number of stored geometry devices can be increased, to be precise without the need for further investments in terms of a further storage and retrieval system or other transport or conveying elements.

In this case, it proves to be particularly expedient for the two separate shelf units to be arranged opposite one another in such a way that an intermediate space is formed between them, in which the common shelf operating device is arranged. As a result, the geometry devices can be placed on the respective shelves of the two shelf units or removed from them particularly quickly.

A particularly practical development of the present invention is also achieved in that the turntable is arranged relative to the shelf in such a way that the geometry device arranged on the turntable in the standby position is aligned with the geometry devices arranged vertically one above the other on the shelf. This ensures that the respective geometry device can be placed in the ready position on the turntable or removed from it by means of the storage and retrieval unit. For the transport of the geometry devices between the turntable and the shelf, no further intermediate transport or handling devices are required.

According to the invention it is also provided that all of the geometry devices arranged in the working position, in the standby position and in the storage position are aligned horizontally. As a result, during the movement of the geometry devices between the working position, the standby position and the respective storage position, no pivoting movements of the geometry devices about a horizontal axis, which require more space, are required. The geometry devices each include a base plate with several clamping and fixing elements for clamping the components or component variants to be processed, with the base plates of the respective geometry device resting over a large area on the turntable, on the shelf in the shelf and on the receiving element of the shelf operating device in a horizontal orientation, so that additional fixations of the geometry devices are not required during transport or storage.

Alternatively, all of the geometry devices arranged in the working position, in the standby position and in the storage position can be aligned vertically. In this case, too, no pivoting movements about a horizontal axis are required during the movement of the geometry device between the working position, the standby position and the respective storage position. The vertical alignment of the base plates of the geometry devices reduces the space required for the geometry devices arranged in the storage position.

• 1 eine Fertigungsstation in einer perspektivischen Darstellung;
• 2 die in 1 dargestellte Fertigungsstation in einer Seitenansicht;
• 3 die in 1 dargestellte Fertigungsstation in einer Draufsicht;
• 4 ein Regal der Fertigungsstation in einer perspektivischen Darstellung;
• 5 ein Regalbediengerät in einer perspektivischen Darstellung.

The invention allows numerous embodiments. To further clarify its basic principle, one of them is shown in the drawing and is described below. This shows in

• 1 a manufacturing station in a perspective view;
• 2 in the 1 illustrated manufacturing station in a side view;
• 3 in the 1 illustrated manufacturing station in a plan view;
• 4th a shelf of the manufacturing station in a perspective view;
• 5 a stacker crane in a perspective view.

Based on 1 to 5 is the manufacturing station according to the invention below 1 for machining components that have a large number of interchangeable geometry devices 2 includes for clamping different component variants, explained in more detail. The geometry devices 2 each have a base plate 3 on, which with differently arranged and designed positioning, clamping and fixing elements 4th are equipped to clamp the different component variants. The geometry devices also referred to as clamping frames or clamping devices 1 are used for the precise geometric arrangement and fixation of the components or the individual parts forming the component during the processing of the components.

The manufacturing station 1 is part of a production line, which includes other production stations not shown. The illustrated manufacturing station 1 is designed as a joining station and is used to weld supplied components or individual parts forming the component, in particular side parts of a vehicle body, by means of welding robots 5 to weld. For transporting the components between the manufacturing station shown 1 and adjacent production stations (not shown) are in a production direction shown by a directional arrow 6th the production line in front of and behind the production station 1 one transport robot each 7th with appropriately trained gripping devices 8th intended for the components. The transport robots 7th can be in assigned rails 9 translational in the production direction 6th are proceeded.

The one in the manufacturing station 1 Components to be processed are transported by one of the two transport robots 7th in a correspondingly designed geometry device 2 which in a working position 10 is arranged, filed and by the positioning, clamping and fixing elements 4th the geometry device 2 recorded and fixed. After the fixed component has been processed by the welding robots 5 the component becomes by means of the gripping device 8th of the other of the two transport robots 7th from the geometry device 2 removed and fed to the subsequent production station.

Using the manufacturing station 1 different components or component variants, in particular different side parts for different types of vehicles, can be machined or welded. The manufacturing station 1 a variety of geometry devices 2 on, which in particular with regard to the arrangement and design of the positioning, tensioning and fixing elements 4th distinguish.

For a quick and reliable change of the geometry fixtures 2 assigns the manufacturing station 1 besides a variety of geometry fixtures 2 a turntable 11 , at least one shelf 12 and a storage and retrieval system 13 on.

The one around a vertical axis 14th swiveling turntable 11 has a shelf 15th for the simultaneous recording of those in the working position 10 arranged geometry device 2 and one in a standby position 16 arranged geometry device 2 for another component variant, the two geometry devices 2 in the working position 10 and in the ready position 16 diametrically opposite each other on the shelf 15th of the turntable 11 are arranged. By swiveling the turntable 11 around the vertical axis 14th around 180 ° are the two geometry devices 2 on the turntable 11 between the work position that fixes the component precisely for processing 10 and the standby position 16 movable so that the change of the geometry devices 2 when changing the in the production station 1 The component variant to be processed can take place particularly quickly. The pivoting movement 17th of the turntable 11 around the vertical axis 14th is shown in the figures by a directional arrow.

Using the shelf 12 assigned storage and retrieval system 13 can the respective geometry devices 2 between the standby position 16 on the shelf 15th of the turntable 11 and a storage position 18th on the shelf 12 moved or transported. The shelve 12 consists of a steel frame and is used to hold a variety of geometry devices 2 designed for different component variants, these vertically one above the other on the shelf 12 can be arranged. The shelf, which is designed as a high shelf, has this 12 several shelves arranged vertically one above the other 19th , in particular cantilever, on which the geometry devices 2 in the storage position 18th rest.

The by swiveling the turntable 11 from the working position 10 in the standby position 16 transferred geometry device 2 can then through the storage and retrieval system 13 from the turntable 11 recorded and on an unoccupied shelf 19th of the shelf 12 be filed. The storage and retrieval system designed as a lifting device or lifting beam has for this purpose 13 a horizontally and vertically movable receiving element on which the respective geometry device 2 during transport between the standby position 16 and the storage position 18th rests.

After putting down the geometry device 2 on an unoccupied shelf 19th of the shelf 12 becomes a different geometry device 2 for another component variant from the stock item 18th on the shelf 12 picked up and by a vertical and horizontal movement in the ready position 16 on the turntable 11 arranged so that this is in the working position when the component variant to be processed is changed again 10 can be pivoted.

The turntable 11 is here so relative to the shelf 12 arranged that the in the standby position 16 on the turntable 11 arranged geometry device 2 in alignment with the geometry devices arranged vertically one above the other 2 on the shelf 12 is aligned.

The shelve 12 can, as in particular in 4th clearly visible are two separate shelving units 20th include, which each have a plurality of shelves arranged one above the other and designed as shelves 19th for at least one geometry device in each case 2 exhibit. The two shelving units 20th are arranged opposite one another in such a way that there is a gap between them 21st trains in which the in 5 Shelf operating device shown 13 is arranged.

As in the 1 to 5 shown, all of the are in the working position 10 , in the standby position 16 and in the storage position 18th arranged geometry devices 2 horizontally aligned. This means that the geometry devices 2 only around a vertical axis during the entire process 14th be pivoted. A pivoting of the geometry devices 2 about a horizontal axis is not required.

List of reference symbols

1

Manufacturing station

2

Geometry device

3

Base plate

4th

Positioning, clamping and fixing element

5

Welding robots

6

Production direction

7th

Transport robots

8th

Gripping device

9

rail

10

Working position

11

Turntable

12th

shelf

13

Storage and retrieval system

14th

axis

15th

Storage space

16

Standby position

17th

Swivel movement

18th

Stock item

19th

Filing

20th

Shelf unit

21st

Space

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• WO 9219486 A1 [0002]
• DE 19917908 A1 [0004]
• DE 69621443 T2 [0006]

Claims (10)

Manufacturing station (1) for processing components, with several interchangeable geometry devices (2) for clamping different component variants, characterized in that the geometry devices (2) by means of a turntable (11) between a working position (10) which fixes the respective component precisely and a Standby position (16) can be moved, the turntable (11) being designed to simultaneously accommodate a geometry device (2) arranged in the working position (10) and a geometry device (2) arranged in the standby position (16), and that the geometry devices (2) can be moved between the standby position (16) and a storage position (18) in a rack (12) by means of a storage and retrieval system (13), with several geometry devices (2) being vertically stackable in the rack (12). Manufacturing station (1) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the turntable (11) is pivotable about a vertical axis (14). Manufacturing station (1) after Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that the two geometry devices (2) arranged on the turntable (11) are arranged diametrically opposite one another. Manufacturing station (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shelf (12) has several shelves (19) arranged vertically one above the other and spaced apart for at least one geometry device (2) each. Manufacturing station (1) after Claim 4 , characterized in that during the movement of the geometry device (2) between the standby position (16) and the storage position (18) at least one of the several vertically stacked shelves (19) of the shelf (12) is unoccupied. Manufacturing station (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage and retrieval system (13) comprises a receiving element which can be moved horizontally and vertically and which receives the respective geometry device (2). Manufacturing station (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shelf (12) comprises at least two separate shelf units (20), each of which has a plurality of shelves (19) arranged one above the other for each at least one geometry device (2), the a common storage and retrieval system (13) is assigned to both shelf units (20). Manufacturing station (1) after Claim 7 , characterized in that the two separate shelf units (20) are arranged opposite one another in such a way that an intermediate space (21) is formed between them, in which the shelf operating device (13) is arranged. Manufacturing station (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the turntable (11) is arranged relative to the shelf (12) in such a way that the geometry device (2) arranged on the turntable (11) in the standby position (16) is aligned in alignment with the geometry devices (2) arranged vertically one above the other in the shelf (12). Manufacturing station (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all of the geometry devices (2) arranged in the working position (10), in the standby position (16) and in the storage position (18) are aligned horizontally or that all of the in the working position (10), in the standby position (16) and in the storage position (18) arranged geometry devices (2) are aligned vertically.

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